Rotary spark-gap apparatus



Oct. 7 ,'1924. 1,5105741 E. G. DANlELsHoN ROTARY SPARK` GAP APPARATUS Filed Oct. 30 1919 WITNESS: 5/ xNvEN'roR MMM. 3 y BY M Patented Uct. 7, 1924.

NITED S ERNEST G'. DANIELSON, 0F SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB. TO GRAY & DAN'IELSON MFG. C0., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A COPARTNERSHIP.

ROTARY SPARK-GAP APPARATUS.

Application 111e@ October 30, 1919. ,Serial No. 834,604.

To all whom t ma. concer/'12,.'

Be it known that ERNEST G. DANmLsoN, a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of the city and county of San Francisco, State of, California, have invented` a certain new and useful Rotary Spark-Gap Apparatus, of which the following 1s a specilication.

The invention relates to rotary spark gap 10 devices for use in radio signaling systems.

An object of the invention is to provide a rotary spark gap apparatus in which the phase relation of the radio frequency current may be varied without disturbing the concentricity of the rotor and stationary electrode holder.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a rotar spark gap apparatus which may be readllyadjusted to compensate for 2o wear or other urposes.

A further ob'ect of the invention is to provide a relia le and eicient fool-proof device.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, sometof which,with theforeoing, will be set forth at length in the folowin description, where I shall outline in fu that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the draw.- ings accompanying and forming part of the resent specification. In said drawings, I liave shown one embodiment of my invention, but it is to be understood that Ido not limit myself to such form, since the invention, as set forth in the claims, may be embodied'in a lurality of forms.

Referring to drawings:

Figure 1 is a front -elevationof the apparatus of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus taken on the line 2 2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation on a larger scale of the stationa electrode holder.

Fi re 4 is a side e evation of the stationa e ectrode holder.

i e 5 is a section through the stationary e ectrode holder taken on lthe line 5 5, Fi re 4.

he apparatus comprises a rotor having electrodes fixed thereon, and a stationary electrode supportin member upon which are arran ed mo'va le stationa electrode holders. he stationar electr es are ada justable radially in the elders so that they may be readily moved to produce the required mounted on their supporting member so that, in the event of accident, improper adv justment or accumulation on the ends of the electrodes, the stationary electrodes may be swung or pushed from the path of the moving electrodes without injury thereto. The stationary electrode supporting member is movable circumferentially to vary the phase relation of the current and in order to insure concentricity of this member with the rotor at all times, the rotor is journaled in the member.

The apparatus comprises a stationary electrode supporting member comprising a disc 2 which is suitably mounted in a housing 3, so that it may be moved circumferentially, a handle 4 being usually provided for that purpose. Mounted on the disc 2, and insulated therefrom by the insulators 5, which extend through the disc, is a plurality of conductin posts 6, in the resent instance there being four posts 6. ecured lto the ends of the posts 6 are two arcshaped conducting bars 7, each bar being connected to two adjacent posts and the two bars being separated from each other, at

the ends of the arcs. A conductor is con-4 nected to either of the sts of a bar 7.

Mounted on the bars andequdistantly spaced circumferentially, are four stationary electrode holders S, each holder being pivoted to the bar 7 to oneside of the radius through the stationary electrode. For this pu ose each holder is provided with anear 9, t rough whichy asses a screw 12, which engages/in .the adjacent conducting post 6. The screw is provided with a smooth shank at that part which lies within the ear, and 9 a spring washer 13 is interposed between the ear and the bar. ly tight, so that normally the holder remains stationary, and i's so held that a shock or blow on the stationary electrode will cause the holder to swing on its pivot, or screw 12.

Disposed 'in the holder 8 is the angular shank 14 of the stationary electrode 15, which is of considerable length and which presents a large sparking surface 16. This sparking surface is preferably parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor. The shank 14 is provided with a recess 17, and termi hating at the bottom is a threaded hole, in

The screw is suilicientwhich the adjusting screw 18 engages. rllhe holder fis closed at the top by a plate 19, having an aperture through which the screw 18 passes freely, and against the upper surface of which, the shoulder 21 of the screw rests. A spring 22 is disposed in the recess 17 in the shank to hold the electrode pressed outward from the holder. The electrode may be readily removed for purposes of repair or renewal, by rotating the head 23 oi' the screw. rlhe holder is closed at the front by a plate 24, and secured by the screws 25, which hold the plate 24 in place, is a flat spring 26 having a tooth or projection 27 at its upper end, which engages in regularly spaced depressions 28 on the head of the screw. The angular distance between the depressions is preferably so related to the pitch of the screw thread, that' a movement of the head through such angular distance moves the electrode .005 inches, the desired spark gap. The holder is prevented from moving inwardly and is positioned in proper adjustment on the bar, by a set screw. 31, passing radially through a bracket 32 on the holder and contacting with the peripheral surface of the bar.. This insures the proper operative position of the holder and the elec trcdes.

The disc or plate 2 is provided with tubular extensions 33 on opposite sides thereof, in which are arranged `bearings in which the shaftl 3d of the. rotor is journaled. rlhe shaft is, therefore, journaled in the stationary electrode supporting member and, being concentric therewith, adjustment of the disc does not destroy the concentricity. The rotor comprises a metallic carrier or drum 35 secured to the shaft and provided with'regularly spaced projections or teeth 36 whlch constitute the rota electrodes. These electrodes are prefere 1y of the same length as the stationair electrodes and present the same large, uni o rm sparking surface. The uniform sparking surfaces produce a unform note when the apparatus is in operation. The shaft 34 is usually rotated by an electric motor at the desired speed, and an insulating coupling is arranged in the shaft between the device and the motor.

By virtue of this construction, the stationary electrodes may be readily and easily adjusted to compensate for wear and may be quickly replaced when required. An improper adjustment of the stationary electrode or an accumulation on the sparking surfaces of one or more electrodes will not result in the destruction of the apparatus when inoperation, but will merely cause one orlmore of the stationary electrodes to be thrown outward.

I claim:

1. A rotary spark gap apparatus, comprising a stationary support, a stationaryelectrode supporting member rotatably mounted at its outer portion in said support and a rotary electrode carrier having its journal in said member so that its journal rotates therewith.

A. rotary spark gap apparatus, compris'- ing a stationary support, a circular stationary-electrode supporting member rotatably mounted at its periphery in said support, a shaft having its journal in said member and a rotary electrode drum secured to said shaft.

3. A rotary spark gap apparatus, comprising a stationary-electrode supporting member, electrode holders pivotally mounted in a circle on saidmember, electrodes carried by said holders, and arotary electrode carrier journaled in said member.

ft. ln a rotary spark gap apparatus, an electrode supporting member, an electrode holder ivotally attached to said member, an electro e in said holder, and a screw carried by the holder and adapted to enga e the periphery of the member to position t e holder with respect to the member.

5. ln a rotary spark gap apparatus, a circular, stationary-electrode supporting member, a rotary electrode member arranged concentrically within said first mentioned member, stationary electrodes, and ,means for supporting said stationary electrodes on said first supporting member whereby said stationary electrodes may be freely moved outwardly as to said member.

6. ln a rotary spark gap apparatus, an electrode holder, a circular holder supporting member, means for movably securing said holder to said member", whereby said holder may swing outwardly radially as to the supporting member, and an electrode in said holder. o

7. In a rotary spark gap apparatus, an electrode holder, comprising a body portion having a seat therein, an electrode disposed in said seat, a screw extending into said body and said electrode for varying the position of the electrode with respect to vthe body, a head on said screw havin depressions there- 1n, and a spring secure to said body and bearing against said head.

In testimon whereof, lt have hereunto set my hand at an Francisco, California, this 21st day of October, 1919. 

